COX-1 and COX-2 contributions to basal and IL-1 beta-stimulated prostanoid synthesis in human neonatal cerebral microvascular endothelial cells.

Mechanisms of endothelium-dependent regulation of cerebral circulation in human neonates are poorly understood owing to the lack of experimental data. Prostanoids, the products of the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway, appear to be important regulators of blood flow in neonates. COX activity in cultured endothelial cells from small (60-300 microm) and large (>300 microm) microvessels from the autopsy specimens of neonatal human cerebral cortex and cerebellum (22-26 wk gestational age) was detected as production of vasodilator prostanoids, prostacyclin [as 6-keto-prostaglandin (PG) F(1 alpha)] and PGE(2) from arachidonic acid.